Lisa Hilton displays what’s possibly her strongest release date both as performer and composer. For the first time in years, she’s without her usual teammates of Larry Grenadier/b and Nasheet Watts/dr, with Gregg August/b and Rudy Royston/dr as able replacements as you could beg for. JD Allen’s tenor is still in town, and the addition of big hearted Sean Jones on trumpet and flugelhorn, the band sounds richer and livelier. She still has her distinctive Impressionistic touch, giving off hints of Debussy on her solo take “When It Rains” with rustling notes of flower petals. She can sound like she’s sitting in at the local saloon as Jones squeezes out notes on “Lazy Moon” while the two walk hand in hand on a romantic Sunday stroll on “Moon River.” Dark keys are hit by Hilton’s sinewy yet strong fingers along the driving chase scene on “Nocturnal” which has Royston charging like Cary Grant behind the wheel on “North By Northwest.” The quintet creates lovely yearnings on the embracing and ebullient “Dolphins” and Hilton shows her penchant for modern artists by taking on The Black Keys piece “Gold On THe Ceiling” with an incessant labyrinth of sounds and Royston’s incessant drive. Lovely trio interplay is displayed on Hilton’s own “Current” with this and “the film noirish “Surfer Blues” showing an impressive touch on the composer’s pen. This Malibu lady is making some major waves.